Haljo1935

And they have glass bottles for on the ship.

Tipping is such an American "thing" - it's kinda out of place and gets strange looks sometimes. but I still do it for great service, maybe cuz I'm American? !o!

I genuinely hope you enjoy your cruise and am thrilled you received and accepted the offer. I am genuinely sad for myself as I spent a significant amount of $$ last May on AK land cruise 😞

Yes, that is what I've been told. I feel fairly certain I will not ever have the opportunity to do one, but doesn't mean I will stop asking.

All I can say is OMG, Wow - so sorry you had that experience and hope all is well now.

@NRFBQN those should not sold as NS, IMO. Or if they are, should be as obstructed view, since there is not a "limited use" category. I trust you made your dissatisfaction known both onboard and in the survey. Further hope someone from HAL followed up.

@Banditswife next time you get one for Alaska, please let me know; I will happily go as your "+1" and even cover your cost, lol!! I've paid dearly for AK land cruise!!

I posed the question "How can AI improve the passenger experience on cruise ships?" as a test using ChatGPT (free version, not upgraded); below is the response I received back. This was just now; took less than 30 seconds to get the response. "Artificial intelligence (AI) can significantly enhance the passenger experience on cruise ships in several ways. Here are some ways AI can be utilized to improve passenger satisfaction and enjoyment: 1. Personalized Services: AI can analyze passenger data, including preferences, past behaviors, and demographics, to provide personalized recommendations and services. This can include tailored dining options, entertainment suggestions, excursion recommendations, and onboard activities. Passengers can have a more customized experience that aligns with their individual preferences. 2. Intelligent Virtual Assistants: AI-powered virtual assistants, such as chatbots or voice-activated systems, can be available onboard to assist passengers with various inquiries and requests. These assistants can provide information about ship facilities, activities, schedules, and answer frequently asked questions. Passengers can get prompt and accurate responses, enhancing their overall experience. 3. Smart Room Automation: AI can enable smart automation in cabins to enhance comfort and convenience. Passengers can control the lights, temperature, curtains, and other room features using voice commands or mobile apps. AI can also learn individual preferences and adjust the room settings accordingly, creating a personalized and comfortable environment. 4. Enhanced Safety and Security: AI-based systems can improve safety and security onboard cruise ships. AI-powered video surveillance systems can monitor public areas and alert security personnel in case of unusual behavior or potential threats. Facial recognition technology can assist in identifying passengers and improving access control. 5. Predictive Maintenance: AI can be used to monitor and analyze the performance of onboard systems and equipment. By collecting real-time data and applying predictive analytics, AI can identify potential maintenance issues before they lead to equipment failures or disruptions. This proactive approach helps ensure smooth operations and minimizes inconveniences for passengers. 6. Augmented Reality (AR) Experiences: AR can be integrated into onboard activities and entertainment, offering passengers immersive and interactive experiences. AI-powered AR can provide virtual tours of destinations, historical information, or enhance onboard shows and performances, making the cruise experience more engaging and captivating. 7. Intelligent Crowd Management: AI can assist in managing passenger flow and avoiding congestion in high-traffic areas like embarkation and disembarkation points, dining venues, or entertainment areas. AI-powered analytics can optimize crowd management, ensuring a smooth and efficient experience for passengers. 8. Language Translation: AI-powered language translation tools can facilitate communication between passengers and crew members who speak different languages. This can help overcome language barriers and create a more inclusive and enjoyable experience for international travelers. These are just a few examples of how AI can improve the passenger experience on cruise ships. By leveraging AI technologies, cruise lines can provide more personalized, efficient, and enjoyable journeys for their guests." Haven't finished reading it yet, so I don't know to what degree I agree or not - just wanted to get it on here and see where this takes us...

Typically, those paid responses, in your search example, are identified by the word "sponsored" but who's to say the identifier isn't occasionally missing causing the user to think they're valid rather than paid?

Wow - You're killing me!! Genuinely happy for you; if this weren't so painful, it would be funny. Below is the most recent issue, one in a loooong list... I am trying to get a deposit moved over from a booking my PCC did that HAL cancelled (they pulled the ship to do a charter that week) that I didn't know was canceled until I called in to ask why it had disappeared from my Navigator. I was told she has to do it and she should have sent me the email they sent out in April - April?!?! I have called and emailed her - she sent an email saying she's busy in Zoom meetings and can't be reached for a few days. I saved the email in hopes I'll one day find someone at HAL sympathetic to my situation. In the meantime, HAL is selling cabins for the alternate date... Ok, now that I vented, back to this conversation. Your experience highlights the value of a good PCC and the importance of maintaining a good relationship with them. Congrats on winning the lottery!!

For sure having sailed on a CCL line gets your email shared among the family. That is, I'm sure, how I got an email years ago for a really great deal on Princess, which I booked and sailed several times afterwards. And then again how I got the first offer from HAL for an amazing deal to AK, which I booked and am now 4*. Previous to those, I had only sailed Carnival - ever.

That's the same address my most recent came from. And, yes, "Free Stateroom" or similar is in the subject line. These are different than the "exclusive" or "private sale" offers.

ChatGPT could probably craft a fairly insightful looking response today to a standard complaint, if we wanted to test it.

I hadn't thought of it in terms of a membership fee, and thinks that's fair. However, if the "club" goes under, the membership does too.

But I want to do some things live!! Mount Everest, for me, will have to be virtual, but there are many places I still want to visit myself, live, in person. Please don't make me wear a VR headset... 🙄

Yes and the standard Have It All package that is not part of the Early Booking Bonus, as @terrydtx mentioned - does not include gratuities and includes the Standard bev pkg (not Elite) and the regular WiFi (not premium). Yours is slightly different - definitely the more enhanced upgraded HIA, so to speak.

And as shareholders of any amount, whether 100 shares to receive OBC or ## shares for investments, we all need CCL to be financially healthy...

Yes I did.

Yes @seekatz I've said that several times - knowing you're paying for something others get free or discounted is beyond aggravating and does not promote food will toward current passengers.

It was for us April 29 on Eurodam. We had dropped bags in cabin, eaten lunch in MDR and enjoying wine on our balcony before 1pm!

@Florida_gal_50 not a casino person here nor is my sister, both of who me rec'd offers.

@Destiny0315 you may be correct or close, but I don't think we'll ever know. HAL doesn't want us to know how they offer "free" cruises as people would likely book fewer "paid" cruises waiting for a "free" one to hit their inbox. They'd potentially leave money on the table through missed bookings. And certainly from people who did book more "free" ones and less "paid" ones. I do not receive the offers I used to and have accepted I will have to pay to cruise, which has great my reduced my annual cruise days. But it won't cause me to stop cruising. At least not yet. All the darn price increases, might, though...

Gotcha - yes, that is your check in time; boarding time isn't listed. What time boarding begins will depend on how quickly disembarkation is complete and the ship cleared. You could expect to be on fairly early with a check-in time of 11.

@IUBryan please update us if you find one - I'd love to do it!

Yes, aligned that AI absolutely has a role in engineering, navigation, and certain passenger encounters (like the Dive In app you mentioned). But I don't believe it will be the life preserver @mcrcruiser is predicting; there are far too many "human" encounters (cabin stewards and chefs, for ex) that the industry depends on. Interesting conversation, for sure!